My Life & Artwork - November 2019

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Our beautiful farm-to-table meal

November was a fun and beautiful month here in the desert! I kicked it off with a Intuitive Farm-to-Table Plant Based Cooking Class at The Farm at South Mountain. Kalisha attended with me and we crafted some beautiful and tasty dishes with veggies from the farm and around the Phoenix area. The Farm at South Mountain is very near my apartment, and I look forward to returning there to explore more. It seemed a bit like a slightly more upscale “Huber’s” type place (that reference will only make sense to people from the Louisville area).

I enjoyed the amazing weather with hiking at Usery Mountain Regional Park, a visit to Desert Botanical Garden on their monthly “free” day, and a trek up the Hieroglyphics Trail just west of here in Gold Canyon. The Hieroglyphics trail was a special treat, with gorgeous scenery, spectacular clouds, and a plethora of petroglyphs at the trail’s end. I’m always awed by these markings and being able to put myself in the same place as people 1,500 or so years ago. There were some nice pools of water there, which I’m sure were the one of the draws for the ancient peoples.

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Petroglyphs on the Hieroglyphic Trail

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Sedona in the snow

Aaron and I decided to get out of town for Thanksgiving, and rented a cottage in Oak Creek Canyon just outside of Sedona. It was a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Sedona is a bit cooler than Phoenix, so we expected to need to dress more warmly. I had spotted a little snowflake on the weather forecast, but I was not prepared for the amount of snow we were greeted with Friday morning! Several inches covered everything and it was so beautiful. We hung out in the snowy scenery all morning and then made our way back to Phoenix. The trip involved snow, rain, and even some hail, and I later discovered that Highway 89A where we were staying in Oak Creek Canyon closed shortly after we left. It was hard to believe that a couple of hours later when we were staring a palm trees and blue skies.

I created 13 paintings this month. These ranged from some quick sketches and miniature pieces to large detailed work. Six of my miniature paintings headed to two different art exhibitions this month at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop in Tucson and 9 The Gallery in Phoenix. As many galleries do this time of year, the shows focus on small, affordable works for the holiday shopping crowd. The show at 9 The Gallery, entitled “Tiny Works V,” is my first at a gallery in Phoenix, and I look forward to attending the reception on Friday, December 6.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t throw in an extra ask that you please consider supporting your favorite small business local starving artist this holiday season! My website has items from $3.99 on up, and I recently rolled out free shipping on every item in my online shop. Don’t forget you can also get my designs on stuff like t-shirts, pillows, notebooks, journals, mugs, tote bags, clocks, and more on my Redbubble profile. If you don't see an artwork of mine on Redbubble that you would like to purchase in this manner, please let me know and I can easily add it. Thanks for considering supporting me when you shop!

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“La Luz de Viejo”
9x12”, Watercolor on Claybord
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

Original photo

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“The Smith Building”
3x3”, Watercolor on Paper
Currently on exhibit/for sale at The Gallery

Original photo

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“Low Tide Spectacular”
3x3”, Watercolor on Paper
Currently on exhibit/for sale at The Gallery

Original photo

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“Fruita del Desierto”
3x3”, Watercolor on Paper
Currently on exhibit/for sale at The Gallery

Original photo

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“Encanto Ebb”
3x2”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

Original photo

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“Las Olas”
3x2”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

Original photo

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“Conspicuously Hidden”
2x3”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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Original photo (also original photo for “The Middle Way” (below)

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“Fibonacci Display”
2x3”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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“The Middle Way”
10x14”, Watercolor on 300 lb. Arches Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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“Javelina Selfie”
5x7”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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“Superstitious Skies”
5x5”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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“Gold Canyon Trail”
5x7”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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My Life & Artwork - September 2019

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Puerto Peñasco sunset

Buckle up kids, this might be a long one!

As I reported last month, Aaron and I kicked off September with a trip to the beach in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, a 4-hour drive from the Phoenix metro. We stayed in an area we had not visited that was located to the east of the town, and the beach there was the most beautiful one we have encountered in the area. The tides in Puerto Peñasco are some of the most dramatic in the world, and they were especially so with the new moon in the sky. One night, I watched the water retract at sunset faster than water leaving a bathtub, leaving beautiful patterns in the sand. It was incredible!

The area was largely undeveloped (even our condo building was still being built) and there were no neighboring properties. It was a peaceful getaway, but we did awaken in the middle of the night the night before Labor Day to no electricity. It never came back on. Such is Mexico, I guess! We headed for the border and even with a quite early departure, the wait to enter the U.S. was about 2 hours.

I was accepted into the juried “Share Our Walls” exhibition at the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild in Tucson, which opened September 8 and runs until October 6. The reception was toasty with a broken air conditioner in the gallery, but the show was full of cool works of art and I was honored to have my work displayed along with them.

In addition to the SAWG show, the collaborative artwork that my friend Ursula Schneider and I created was accepted into the “Colaboraciones” show at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop in Tucson. I also received an e-mail early in the month from a collaborative workspace called Industrious Tempe that will be opening at the end of October, asking if I would like to display my artwork there. It looks like it will be a beautiful space and I can’t wait to see my work adorn their walls.

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Me with “La Corona” at the SAWG reception

Unfortunately, I missed the reception for the Raices Taller show because my friend Kalisha and I took a weekend trip to Flagstaff after I won tickets to the Northern Arizona Food and Wine festival . It was a great excuse to get away to the cooler elevations and have a little “girls trip.” We had a wonderful time and I’m so grateful for the friendship of my fellow Louisville to Arizona transplant.

“Fall” began to arrive here, and high temperatures dipped to the 90’s and even the 80’s. My cabin fever had indeed about exceeded its level of tolerability, and I hit the trails. I visited the always-magical Desert Botanical Garden mid-month, took day trips to Payson and Prescott, and hiked at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa.

The trip to Payson included stops along the Salt River, Saguaro Lake, and finally the Tonto Natural Bridge, the largest travertine natural bridge in the world. I had longed to visit Watson Lake in Prescott for a couple of years, and it did not disappoint. It is a manmade lake that abuts the Granite Dells, composed of gorgeous rock formations. I hiked the entire perimeter of the lake and I’m quite sure I’ll be back to do it again and again.

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The always-gorgeous Desert Botanical Garden

At Usery Mountain Regional Park, I spent time really looking at and admiring the many personalities and configurations that saguaros display, and photographed many of them. Four of these characters became my final paintings of the month, a series I’m playing with naming “Cacticatures,” a play on the word caricature.

As I have the past couple of years, I’ve designed a 2020 calendar featuring some of my favorite paintings of 2019 and it’s currently on pre-sale. Sales will be closed after November 3, and I don’t plan to order any extras because I certainly can’t use more than one myself. I anticipate shipping the calendars out to customers on December 1. So, if you’re so inclined, get one while you can.

The 10 paintings I created in September and the photos that inspired them are included following a few photos from this month’s adventures. Where will I find my next inspiration?

And with that, I bid you a happy October! Perhaps I will find some changing leaves up a mountain somewhere. I do miss bright orange and red maples, but the magic of nature lives everywhere in different forms. I’ll appreciate what I have at my doorstep. Cheers!

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Kalisha and me in Flagstaff

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Dawn along the Salt River, with Four Peaks on the horizon

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Watson Lake

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Underneath Tonto Natural Bridge

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Saguaro Lake

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September 2019 Artwork

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“Sonoran Anemones”
12x12”, Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper
This piece is on hold for upcoming exhibition.

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“Glochidia Generator”
7x7”, Watercolor on Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

Original photo

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“T View”
20x8”, Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper
This piece is on hold for upcoming exhibition.

Original photo

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“Tierra de Tortolita”
10x4”, Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches Cold Pressed Paper
For sale as of this blog posting - visit my online shop to purchase.

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“Cache”
10x4”, Watercolor on 140 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper
This piece is on hold for upcoming exhibition.

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“Adios Amigos”
5x7”, Watercolor on 300 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper
SOLD

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Tentative series title: “Cacticatures”
Each panel measures 3x9”, Watercolor on 300 lb. Arches cold press watercolor paper
This series is on hold for upcoming exhibition.

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My Life & Artwork - April 2019

The first day of April was moving day! Thank goodness movers did the heavy lifting, and my back was spared the agony. It’s amazing how long it can take to move, even when you don’t feel like you have much “stuff.”

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Tempe’s Bell Butte

We hadn’t seen our actual apartment in Tempe, and I was a little anxious about it. Our place in Tucson had been such a nice spot to call home. I was pleasantly surprised to arrive to an entirely renovated, brand-new unit. I couldn’t ask for anything nicer. The view isn’t quite what it was in Tucson, but it’s not bad, either. We have a nice view of Bell Butte (which they kindly adorned with a “T” for “Teressa” …. er…. maybe for “Tempe,” which makes for a good sunset backdrop since it’s directly west of us.

Mid-April, I got some fantastic news! I was selected to exhibit my artwork in a solo show at Agua Caliente Park’s Ranch House Gallery in Tucson from March 21 to April 22, 2020. It’s good that I have nearly a year’s notice, since I have 88 LINEAR FEET of gallery space to fill. I had applied for this opportunity last year without success. This year, I was one of just ten artists to be selected to show during the course of the year. It will be my first solo exhibition in over twenty years! I’m very excited, and have already started creating paintings with this space in mind.

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Some lovelies from Desert Botanical Garden

It’s cactus flower season, and the desert is popping with the most gorgeous, lush blooms. I’m not sure why cactus flowers seem magical, but they totally are. With that in mind, my friend Ursula and I spent a day at the Desert Botanical Garden, one of my favorite slices of desert paradise. I’m lucky to live just about 15 minutes from it now that I’m in Tempe, and a great place to soak up some artistic inspiration.

I tried out a new painting surface this month. I hadn’t ever used Aquabord before, but it caught my eye at Jerry’s Artarama and I bought a few pieces of it. It’s basically a clay-coated surface for watercolor painting. After sealing the painting, it can be framed without glass. It has definitely been an adjustment to paint on this surface, as it handles the paint in a very different way from paper. I certainly still like paper, but Aquabord will definitely be an ongoing addition to my painting arsenal. I have now created several pieces on the surface (see below!) and I’m in love with the vibrant colors I am able to produce. I think these will be really nice additions to my body of work for the show at Agua Caliente, too.

And just like that, April whooshed out the door and May arrived. I have a feeling that March 21, 2020, will be here faster than I would prefer. Hi ho, hi ho! Have a great May, friends!

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“Pusch Ridge Rainbow”
SOLD (Commission)
7x5” on watercolor paper

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“I Don’t Bite”
SOLD
5x7” on watercolor paper

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“Winter Watcher”
For sale as of this blog posting
3.5x5” on watercolor paper

Original photo

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“Perched Plumage”
For sale as of this blog posting
3.5x5” on watercolor paper

Original photo

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“Ice Cream Dream”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7” on Aquabord

Original photo

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“The Ringleader”
SOLD
7x5” on Aquabord

Original photo

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“The Incubator”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7” on Aquabord

Original photo

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“Prelude to the Pursuit”
This piece is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery
11x14” on Aquabord

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I have not yet titled this piece. I’m also not completely sure it’s finished!
This painting is on hold for exhibition and sale at my solo show at Agua Caliente Ranch House Gallery
12x12” on Aquabord

Original photo

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Umm... Happy 2019!? (I'm a bit of a slacker.)

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My snow friend and me

Hey there!

Yep, it’s April 9, and I am just now writing my first blog post for 2019. Whoops!

Anyhoo, I’m doing it now. And that’s what counts, right? It’s not like I can go back in time…

One of the big themes for the first part of 2019 was SNOW. Say what?! Yes, that’s right, on rare occasions, even Tucson gets some of that fluffy white stuff. This year, the mountains got dusted, capped, and coated so many times that I lost count, starting on New Year’s Day itself. The highlight, though, was February 22, when even the city of Tucson itself saw white flakes falling from the sky. My friend Ursula and I made sure that this rarity didn’t go to waste, and had a wonderful time playing in the snow at Saguaro National Park East. I even built a snowman!

I continued to exhibit my artwork at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop. The first show of 2019, “Año Nuevo, Obras Nuevas,” displayed three of my larger landscapes I created in 2018. I sold “Cactus Cartel,” a scene from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, to a collector from Portland, Oregon. I have another set of paintings on display there currently in their “Common Ground” exhibition (a tribute to Cesar Chavez), and have reportedly sold "Tomato,” a piece featuring the architecture of tomato roots (see below in my art round-up for image). I’m very pleased with the response to my work through these opportunities, and so very grateful to this non-profit gallery for all of their hard work.

Aaron and I took a couple of trips these past few months. We stayed in Choya Bay outside of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, at the end of January, enjoying the sounds and the smells of the sea, as well as some beers and Mexican food at JJ’s Cantina up the road. In March, we visited a different body of water, spending a long weekend at Lake Havasu City, where the Colorado River is dammed to form a beautiful desert oasis.

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Mom and me at the Desert Botanical Gardens

February and March both brought some familiar faces to Arizona. In February, we enjoyed a visit from my sweet mom, and I had a great time touring her around Tucson. It was fun to give her a more in-depth experience of the area, visiting several local eateries, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Tubac, San Xavier del Bac, Desert Botanical Garden, Saguaro National Park, and part of the Tucson Gem Show. My dear friend Allison visited for about 48 hours in March, and a whirlwind tour of Mexican eateries, Saguaro National Park, and Ironwood Forest National Monument ensued.

The snow and plentiful rain did their job this year, and wildflowers have abounded this spring. For the past month and a half, swaths of the desert have been covered in yellow, pink, orange, and blue. They popped on the hills around Lake Havasu, ran down the slopes of Picacho Peak, and prettied up the route to Ironwood Forest National Monument. It’s a good thing that digital cameras exist, because I hate to know how many rolls of film I would have devoted to capturing their precious petals.

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Superstition Mountain

Ursula and I hiked in the Superstition Mountains mid-March. This trip turned out to be a foreshadowing of things to come, as the Superstitions are located just east of the Phoenix metro area. Two weeks after our beautiful hiking adventure, Aaron and I relocated to Tempe, which is immediately adjacent to the east of the city of Phoenix, so that Aaron could pursue a new career opportunity. I’m adjusting to a slightly faster pace of living, more traffic, abundant Indian restaurants (if you know me, you know this makes me HAPPY!), and slightly less amazing views. I’m excited to have a new place to explore, new opportunities, and a closer proximity to places like the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Lake Havasu, Sedona, and my friend Kalisha! I’ll certainly miss Tucson, but luckily it’s still only an hour-and-a-half drive down I-10.

Last but not least, I cranked out 28 paintings over the past 3 months, including several commissions. I also marked down all paintings created prior to 2019, and sale prices will remain in effect until those pieces find a new home. All of my January, February, and March 2019 creations are featured below, with availability at the time of this blog posting indicated.

I’ll try to do better with next month’s blog post! Cheers to 2019!

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“One Main Street, Bisbee, Arizona”
For sale as of this blog posting
7x5”

Original photo

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“Rowdy Crew”
For sale as of this blog posting
10x8”

Original photo

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“Echo”
For sale as of this blog posting
10x8”

Original photo

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“Fraternal”
For sale as of this blog posting
9x12”
No original photo, as this was created in nature

“Valen-Tine III”
SOLD
5x7”

Original photo

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“Valen-Tine I”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

Original photo

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“Valen-Tine II”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

Original photo

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“White-Striped Agave Study”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x3.5”

Original photo

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“Buckhorn Cholla Study”
SOLD
5x3.5”

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“Valen-Tine IV”
SOLD
5x7”

Original photo

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“Valen-Tine V”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

Original photo

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“Valen-Tine VI”
For sale as of this blog posting
5x7”

Original photo

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“Lemon”
Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop from 3/2/19-4/20/19
8x10”

Original photo

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“Tomato”
8x10”
SOLD

Original photo

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“Pecan”
Available for purchase at Raices Taller 222 Art Gallery & Workshop from 3/2/19-4/20/19
8x10”

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“Twenty Dollar View”
SOLD (Commission)
14x11”

Original photo

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“Maggie May and Ginger Afield”
SOLD (Commission)
14x11”

Compilation of photos of these two pups!

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“Havasu Spring”
For sale as of this blog posting
10x13”

Original photo

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“Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona: 3/2/19, 15:34:54”
SOLD
3x2”

Original photo

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“Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona: 3/3/19, 12:26:27”
For sale as of this blog posting
3x2”

Original photo

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“Tucson, Arizona: 2/6/19, 18:03:55”
For sale as of this blog posting
2x3”

Original photo

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“Cattail Cove State Park, Arizona: 3/2/19, 15:44:23”
For sale as of this blog posting
2x3”

Original photo

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“Camp Jackson”
Gift for my mother
3x2”

Original photo

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“Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona: 3/6,19, 9:39:03”
SOLD
3x2”

Original photo

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“Picacho Peak State Park, Arizona: 3/6,19, 9:06:01”
SOLD
2x3”

Original photo

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“Tucson, Arizona: 3/7/19, 18:39:40”
SOLD
3x2”

Original photo

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“Pearl of a Girl”
SOLD (Commission)
5x7”

Original photo

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“Layers”
SOLD (Commission)
8x10”

Original photo

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My Life & Artwork - April 2018

Well, April sure has been fun and interesting!

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The saguaros are blooming and it's spectacular (photo from Saguaro National Park West)

The desert has been in full bloom and it's been pretty spectacular. The palo verde trees are trimmed with yellow flowers, the yucca are popping out big stalks of white blooms, and the cacti are bursting with all sorts of amazing petal configurations. I'm enjoying every minute of nature's celebration. While April was mostly beautiful, May is looking toasty, with the first of the year's triple-digit temperatures set to hit this weekend. 

Aaron and I did several interesting things this month, including attending a Mexican street food festival, stargazing at Kitt Peak National Observatory, glass blowing at Sonoran Glass School, and chowing down at the Pima County Fair. We especially enjoyed the glass blowing experience, and will very likely return for more fun with molten materials at some point in the future. 

I took a day trip to Phoenix to visit the Desert Botanical Garden, Jerry's Artarama (art supply store - $$$), and my friend Kalisha. I also trekked all the way across Tucson to Saguaro National Park East, since I hadn't been there in over a year. It takes nearly an hour to get there, and although it's certainly nice, I confirmed that I am a bigger fan of Saguaro National Park West, which is a much closer trip from my apartment (about 20 minutes). And, I couldn't resist paying a visit to the blooming corpse flower at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, one of only a handful that will bloom in captivity this year. I thought that it smelled like dirty socks.

What else... oh yes, ART! :-)

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Sunset from atop Kitt Peak

I had a really lovely month in this realm. I began April by putting the finishing touches on a special piece for my dear friend's nursery, one which contains a lot of meaning and love. So while I never in my life thought I would paint a raccoon playing a guitar surrounded by fireflies, I ended up rather enjoying the challenge and the result. 

Next up, I was commissioned to paint a dog portrait by a Tucson local who discovered me on Instagram. This was a really fun project because her dog Stella is a total doll, and I met a lovely person in the process (a.k.a. Stella's mom). It was also pretty fun to see the internet pay off in terms of both art sales and people meeting. So yay for the internet!

I was then commissioned (is there a theme here?) to paint a piece for my second cousin to give as a gift to a friend. My cousin Kim lives here in Tucson, and wanted to give something special to a friend who lives in Kino Bay, Mexico. We came up with one of my "reverse mermaid" scenes set in Kino Bay, with some special touches (i.e. heart necklace, paddle board, and wine glass) to make the piece unique to her friend's life and interests. 

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Some of these cactus flowers are just gigantic (photo from Tucson Botanical Garden)

My mother hired me to paint a portrait of her mother in front of her parents' hardware store as a gift for my uncle's birthday, and this project was next on the agenda. This was a bit of a departure from my recent work, but harkened back to pieces I've created in the past. It was fun to do and especially heartwarming to see all the lovely memories people posted on Facebook when my mom shared the piece on there. Apparently my grandparents' hardware store was full of special memories for a lot of people who grew up in Mason, Ohio. 

Last, I took a quick break from commissions (yes, I have another one in the works) to create a piece inspired by spring in Southern Arizona, featuring the blooming ocotillos. These thorny, dead-looking sticks get happy, grow leaves, and bloom a few times a year, and this month has been one of those times.

But wait - I'm not done yet! (Sorry this is a long one...)

April was almost over, but I had another fun surprise in store. Another Tucson artist, Addy Cottle, contacted me via Instagram and asked if I would be interested in showing my work with her at Epic Cafe on Tucson's historic Fourth Avenue. Of course the answer was "yes," and I spent the last few days of April framing art and preparing to display my creations. 

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The corpse flower at Tucson Botanical Gardens

Addy and my show will run through the end of May, and while I know that many of my blog readers won't be in a geographically feasible place to see it, I appreciate the many well wishes I have received. I'm excited to have an opportunity to show my work publicly and connect with new people in Tucson. 

I can't wait to see what happens in May. Stay tuned for my next blog!

And now, this month's creations. The only one of these still available for purchase is the last piece, and it's currently only available for sale by visiting Epic Cafe. If it doesn't sell during my show, it will be back online for sale starting June 1. 

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Coonie's Reprise (special gift for my friend's nursery)

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Stella's Smile (commission)

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"El Pez está en Bahía Kino"

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The Shopkeeper's Wife (commission)

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Gates Pass, Tucson, Arizona: 3/27/18, 9:13:07

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My Artwork - February 2018

My goodness! I don't know how a month that's only two or three days shorter than the others can feel like a whole week less. I truly can't believe that it's already March. 

This month, I spent a week in Tempe with Aaron and a week hosting my mom here in Arizona. While in Tempe, I visited one of my favorite places in Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden. The second piece featured in this blog is from a photo of a cactus I took there.

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The snowy Catalina Mountains, February 28, 2018

Mom and I traveled north to see the Grand Canyon in the snow, and it was a delightful (if slightly chilly!) adventure. We saw more "winter" weather in Tucson this month than I've seen since we put down roots in October, with highs dipping to the low-50s at points. February went out in style yesterday with the most snow I've seen yet on the mountains here so far. I couldn't resist slipping away to the Catalina Mountains at the end of the day to see the juxtaposition of saguaro cacti against snow-dusted peaks. 

I have lots of beautiful photos stored up from these excursions, and look forward to bringing them to life on paper or canvas. I'm feeling the pressure to exercise a little more discipline and get cracking. I'm slightly peeved at myself that I only created four paintings this month, although one was a 10x10" commission, which took me quite a bit longer than my usual work due to the size and the pressure associated with it. Commissions are always more time-consuming because I feel the weight of others' expectations, but it's also so much fun to be a part of someone's special gift or moment. So, I put more time in, but I get more from it, too. 

I continue to enjoy the drawing class I'm taking and signed up for a second session. I'm also sharing some of the work I did in class on this blog entry. It's nothing good enough to sell, but I created it, so why not? :-)

The non-commissioned works from this month remain available as of this blog's publish date, so if they tickle (or prickle?) your fancy, head on over and shop now ›

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Pepper's Perch (Commission)

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Phoenix, Arizona: 2/13/18, 10:21:48

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"El Pez está Jugando al Béisbol" (Commission)

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"El Pez está en el Aeropuerto"

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Drawing class, February 7, 2018

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Drawing class, February 28, 2018

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Valley of the Sun

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Lake Havasu near Parker, AZ

Two weeks ago, I meandered through the desert, past the beautiful blue waters of Lake Havasu, and into the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix has definitely lived up to its nickname, as UV rays have been in plentiful supply here, and there certainly hasn't been a single drop of rain.

I even got to experience a day at what they refer to as the "century mark" when the mercury climbed to 100 degrees on Sunday. You always hear people say that it's not as bad because it's a "dry heat." They're telling the truth. I'd take a million 100 degree days at 6% humidity over 90 degrees with 90% humidity back home. Heat is infinitely more tolerable when you don't feel like someone wrapped a wet blanket around your head. Sorry, Ohio Valley.

While I feel I've barely scratched the surface of what this city has to offer, I've definitely enjoyed my time here. I had visited Scottsdale several years ago, but didn't really get to do or experience much on that trip. I honestly had no idea how large the city was until I got here. With a metro area of around 4.5 million people, it's around 3 times the size of my Louisville hometown.

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Phoenix from South Mountain Park

It's been especially fun to spend some time with my friend Kalisha, who relocated to Phoenix from Louisville at the first of the year. She was kind enough to tour me all over the metro area, and I truly got a more local perspective thanks to her. We attended a self-defense class, visited the farmer's market, saw the city sprawl from up high at South Mountain Park, gazed at Camelback Mountain, hopped up to the hole in the rock at Papago Park, went to a Young Nonprofit Professional Network event, and devoured a few delicious meals. 

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Blooming saguaro at Desert Botanical Gardens

Kalisha also scored me a free pass to the Desert Botanical Garden. As a self-described "plant nerd," I think was probably the highlight of my time in Phoenix. Other stops included the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera exhibit at the Heard Museum, the Rose Garden at Mesa Community College, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. I took a day trip to Sedona and hiked in Oak Creek Canyon, and stopped at Montezuma Castle National Monument's gorgeous cliffside dwelling on the way back to the city. I enjoyed lunch and olive oil tasting at Queen Creek Olive Mill (olives!!). South of Phoenix, I visited Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, a multi-story structure built in the 1300's by Ancestral Sonoran Desert People.

I also was really happy that my return to the Sonoran Desert unexpectedly coincided with the saguaro cacti's annual bloom. The white flowers, which open at night and only last through the following day, are Arizona's state flower.

One of the things I enjoy about being somewhere on a more extended timeframe is the chance to just spend time like a normal person. I ate some great Mexican food, spent a lot of time with my paintbrushes, shopped a little, enjoyed my Tempe neighborhood, and put some new tires on my car. After nearly 16,000 miles of traveling, it was time!

There remains plenty I haven't seen, done, or experienced in Phoenix, but I've learned to let that go and not wear myself out. Sometimes you have to walk the line between tourist and pretend local... between vacation and real life.

Where to next? I'm really excited to hit the road this morning and head toward one of our nation's least visited national parks, Great Basin National Park in Baker, Nevada. I'm very excited about the diversity of this remote park, which includes mountains, a glacier, ancient bristlecone pine trees, and a cave. Time to put some wear on these new tires!

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Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in Scottsdale, AZ